MALAYSIANS KINI The sea of yellow during Bersih rallies makes it difficult to zoom in on unusual characters, save for a few who try to be a bit more creative by wearing unique costumes - or doing actions to attract attention from the crowd.

However, seasoned Bersih rally-goers would attest to how disabled activist Isaiah Jacob, although clad in a yellow Bersih T-shirt, stands out like a sore thumb.

With his crutches, Isaiah, who has never missed a single Bersih rally, braves the crowd despite his physical disabilities.

So enthusiastic he is when it comes to Bersih rallies that he has embarked on a one-week hunger strike, starting at midnight today.

The campaign, which Isaiah called a “fasting and prayer” session, is to pray to ensure that the rally will go on smoothly.

Despite his enthusiasm in joining Bersih rallies, he admits that some have been hard on him.

Roughed up by the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU), tear gassed, you name it, he went through these.

He also claimed he once had this asked him by the police: ‘Eh, you orang cacat tak boleh duduk dalam rumah ke?’ (Why can’t you, a disabled person, stay home?).

But, thankfully for him, he said, the police nowadays are friendly towards him. This may be due to him constantly raising the issue of the low wages paid to police officers.

“I raised these things in a few ceramah, maybe that’s why the police are happy. My enemies are not them, but the people who are holding positions.”

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The 50-year-old, who holds a diploma in business administration, also has his own business in management and consultancy firm, which is now in its ninth year of establishment.